21st & Lapham Fire

Been a few weeks since I've been on.  Trying to recall the events of the run.

Early morning (somewhere around 0630) fire tones went off.  Arrived on scene to find ourselves the third engine in.  Not sure, but we grabbed the rear ten and were ordered to get up into the attic.  I had the nozzle and was making my way through the house.  Finally found the stairs and ran into 12's going up.  There bottles were alarming so I told them we would take over.  I knew my boss was right behind me because I kept hearing his radio.

"31's, have you made the attic?  You gotta get up there or I'm pulling you out!"  Working our way up, I do recall how hot it was.  I also heard that there was fire in the basement and on the first floor.  And why we were trying to make the attic, I don't know.  Anyway, on the stairs, I felt like I was just getting pounded with heat.  I noticed a small window which I believe faced west that had been vented so I attempted some hydraulic ventilation.  Few moments later, I reached the landing of the attic.  Boss told me about some fire to the right, which I didn't see right away, but once I did, I pounded that wall with water.  Made our way towards a bedroom to the south, and in doing so, our line was getting caught up somewhere behind us.  I placed the nozzle down, and went back to get more line.  After what seemed like minutes of doing that and working the nozzle, our alarms started going off and then 32's showed up to take over.

Once outside, I tried to cool off.  But my heart was racing and I felt like I just couldn't recover.  Got some water in me.  A few more minutes went by, boss asked if we were ready.  As we went back over by the chief, Nick asked if I was ok.  I hesitated because I wasn't for sure.  I think he said that I didn't look so good.  They escorted me over to Med 3 where I was evaluated.  Yeah, a resting heart rate in the 160's.  Not so good.  I ended up being transported to Luke's where I had the joy of a different Nick, the RT, sticking me for an arterial blood gas sample.  What fun. 

One other thing, I didn't mean to alarm her, but I don't think Sheri enjoyed my call to home.  With called ID, she answered thinking it might be the Hyperbaric Dept calling, asking if I could work today.  That changed quickly once she heard my voice.  "What's wrong?"

"I'm ok.  Just a little heat exhaustion."  I responded.  Soon, she arrived and after I was discharged, returned to 31's to grab my gear.  What a nice start to the day.  It ended good too.  I got a new phone, the HTC Merge.  Which I love!!

Byrge